When I look back and ponder the events and turning points of my life, I realize they are all connected. Each experience, whether triumphant, dismal, regretful, or just downright embarrassing, have been part of my journey. They are all sections of my life’s narrative. And we all have one, whether we choose to read it or not.

When I saw patients, I would always start by finding out about their story – who they are, where they are from, what is important to them, what are the external influences in their lives, and what have they been through to ultimately be sitting in front of me. A person’s story is very powerful and can be extremely informative. It speaks of one’s regrets, prides, and hopes. It discloses their joys and their angst. But most importantly, it is their story and, much like a fingerprint, it is unique and special to that person.

I believe it is that story, their narrative, that drives them subconsciously. It is often part of the reason they choose certain lifestyle behaviors, such as overeating, smoking, or drugs. It is often part of the reason the are engaged in dysfunctional relationships with partners, family, and friends. It is sometimes the reason why there are issues at work. And it is certainly part of the reason they are not in the optimal health they could be.

We are a sum of our experiences. All experiences are to be embraced and understood. We learn from what we did and we learn from what we did not do. We learn from others who have always been beside us and we learn from those who held a short stint during a section of our narrative. It makes us who we are.

What seems to be the tricky part is acknowledging our true self. Too often we try to forget and ignore parts of our life.  Too often we sit and wish things had been different. Too often we try to be something we are not. This leads to internal conflict and emotional distress that in turn leads to poor health choices and reduced well-being.

The challenge I pose to you is to develop sincere introspection. Read your story. Value where you have come from and where you are today. Honor the person you are, no matter what flaws and faults you see, or what mistakes have been made in the past. Know that your story continues to develop and changes are on the horizon. Each chapter has an ending, but also a sequel. The sequel is largely dependent on the previous chapter.

If you know and live your story, you will be better motivated to make the choices and decisions that best suit the person you are at that moment. Your negative back talk will become incessant chatter and your outlook will be grand. You will  at the same time be excited about the future and alive in the present moment.  This will bring contentment. Contentment breeds health and happiness.

Tell me your story.

Ilene S. Ruhoy, MD, PhD was born and raised in New York City. She received her MD from the University of Pittsburgh and her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada. Ilene serves on faculty at Touro University Nevada School of Medicine and lectures at venues across the country on the interconnections between the environment and human health. She is passionate about nutrition as medicine and human well-being. Her next clinical endeavor will be a pediatric neurology residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Having recently relocated with her husband and six year old daughter to Seattle, she is excited to be plugged into the Thrive community. Ilene thrives on helping other people find their way to optimal health and happiness. Ilene can be reached at ilenesue@gmail.com.